A Tribute to Jay Howard, Voice of the San Antonio Spurs

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I've been wanting to write this article for many years now, but for some reason, I simply haven't taken the time. But there's no reason why I can't take 30 minutes and get it done! By the way.. Absolutely no offense whatsoever is intended to Bill Schoening! Bill does such a fantastic job that I would rather mute the TV whenever there's no Bill Land & Sean Elliott Spurs' TV broadcast, and listen to Bill, than most of the scrubs we're "forced" to listen to on ESPN & TNT.

A lot of people in my circle of NBA basketball fans absolutely cannot stand the NBA announcing trio of Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, and Mike Breen, who call games for ESPN & ABC. There are also a lot of people who like them, and surely a ton who don't care. I have written about my opinion of these three before! But this post isn't directed at the blabbering of both Van Gundy and Jackson, as it is towards Mike Breen.

Of the three Mike Breen is the one guy who actually does a halfway decent job calling the play-by-play. While JVG and Jackson continue to argue over irrelevant ideas, and disregard the fact that the fans are listening to their banter, while trying to FOLLOW a game they're interested in, they haven't a clue that they aren't doing the job they've been hired for. As an aside -- Does ESPN get (or acknowledge) any customer feedback in this regard??

OK OK, I said this post wasn't about how much I can't stand Van Gundy & Jackson. This post is to give some long-overdue credit to a guy who used to call Spurs' games back in the day. And also to let Mike Breen know that, although he does a "decent" job as a play-by-play basketball announcer (and bonus points for enduring JVG & Jackson), he needs to know something he probably doesn't know.

Jay Howard was yelling "BANG" LONG BEFORE Breen was!

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Here is good ol' Jay calling our 1999 Championship!

The Worst Game Announcers Evar

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Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy are constantly arguing - constantly bickering over their own opinions, and stuff that sometimes doesn't even have to do with the game they're calling. Bill Walton used to aggravate me, and there have also been a few others who don't quite fit the bill, but these guys are horrible - and have been for a long time!

Does She Or Doesn't She?

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That's Using Your Head

Blonde Jessica Kastrop was the ultimate professional as a stray kick struck her at more than 100mph during a pre-match warm up.
Footage of her unfortunate header has since become a YouTube sensation.The German's head was sent plunging forward with the massive impact but incredibly she bounced right back.

The ball had been kicked by former Chelsea star Khalid Boulahrouz who dispatched a long-range effort during practice ahead of a Bundesliga pre-season clash in Stuttgart.

It hit her with such force her knees buckled and she had to brace herself against a lectern to stop herself collapsing in a heap.
Jessica said afterwards: "I was fine - eventually. Boulahrouz ran over to me straight away and apologised."

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The funniest part of this..? The "THUD" that's clearly audible.